Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2020 – Idaho | USDA NRCS ID CIG 20 GEN0010721

Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NRCS ID CIG 20 GEN0010721

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for federal fiscal year 2020 in Idaho to encourage new and practical conservation ideas that work alongside agricultural production. This funding is meant to move innovative conservation approaches and technologies from the testing phase into real-world use, ultimately helping get successful methods into the hands of producers, incorporated into NRCS technical references (like manuals and guides), or advanced through private-sector adoption. The program is geared toward projects that prove and promote conservation solutions that producers can realistically use, afford, and maintain.

For the Idaho FY 2020 CIG competition, NRCS has up to $225,000 total available statewide. Individual awards are capped at $75,000, which is also the maximum award amount for a single project under this announcement. Projects can run from one to three years, giving applicants flexibility to propose shorter demonstrations or longer pilot efforts that need multiple seasons of field data.

Eligibility is broad and designed to bring in non-federal innovation. All U.S.-based non-federal entities and individuals may apply, with the main exclusion being federal agencies. In other words, organizations such as nonprofits, universities (when applying as non-federal entities), local or state groups, conservation districts, private businesses, producer groups, and individual applicants can compete, as long as the work is carried out in Idaho.

CIG funding generally supports pilot projects, field demonstrations, and on-farm conservation research. On-farm conservation research is specifically described as applied research that answers a clear conservation question using a statistically valid design, carried out with farm-scale equipment on working farms, ranches, or private forest lands. NRCS is looking for projects that do more than propose an idea; the work should be ready for field testing and should be supported by enough prior study to show a high likelihood of success. Proposals are expected to demonstrate and verify performance in real conditions, including effectiveness, usability, affordability, and practical utility.

The announcement also highlights the kinds of innovation CIG wants to advance. This includes both conservation technologies, practices, and systems, and approaches that motivate or finance conservation adoption, such as market-based incentives and conservation finance models. A strong proposal typically includes a clear plan to evaluate results, communicate findings, and transfer what works to producers or other end users, so the innovation is not stuck in a one-off trial but can be adopted more widely. Projects must comply with all applicable federal, tribal, state, and local laws and regulations for the full life of the award.

An important restriction is that CIG is not meant to duplicate what is already routinely fundable through EQIP for established conservation practice standards in the same geographic area. If a technology or approach is already eligible to be funded through an EQIP contract as a standard established practice, it is generally not eligible for CIG, unless the applicant can clearly show that the proposed use represents a genuine innovation beyond typical implementation.

Applications for this Idaho-specific funding opportunity were due by 5:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time on May 8, 2020. Applicants were directed to the Idaho State CIG website for program details and state priorities, which are referenced as being listed in the Full Announcement under the Related Documents section. For direct questions, NRCS provided a point of contact: Denise Adkins (denise.adkins@usda.gov), phone (208) 685-6991.

Key identifiers for the opportunity include Funding Opportunity Number USDA NRCS ID CIG 20 GEN0010721, CFDA 10.912, and a discretionary grant funding instrument. The central takeaway is that this Idaho CIG competition was designed to fund practical, field-tested conservation innovations that can be proven in Idaho conditions and then scaled through producer adoption, NRCS guidance, or broader market uptake.

• The Natural Resources Conservation Service in the agriculture, environment, natural resources, science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Announcement for Program Funding for NRCS’ Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for Federal fiscal year (FY) 2020 – Idaho" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.912.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2020-03-09.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-05-08. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $75,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for USDA NRCS ID CIG 20 GEN0010721

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